HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (7-14-09)

KISS IS READY FOR A NEW BEGINNING

Enjoying Their Latest Studio Experience KISS' Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley say they're really enjoying working on the group's upcoming CD.

Stanley explains that when they've recorded previous albums band members haven't always been able to connect with one another like they do in concert. He notes that with the new project, the group dynamics have been solid.

Simmons adds that it's a big switch from the past, when band members wouldn't show up to sessions. The bassist calls it "a different time," explaining, quote, "You've got four guys who are happy to be in the band and consider it an honor and a privilege, not a birth right, who are having the time of their lives."

The still untitled new KISS CD is expected to arrive later this year. It will be the band's first studio effort in more than ten years.

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THE RESULTS OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S AUTOPSY COULD BE REVEALED SOON:

RadarOnline.com says that MICHAEL JACKSON'S autopsy results could be revealed as early as this Friday. --Ed Winter, an investigator for the Coroner's Office, says, "Some of the test results are in for Michael Jackson, not all of them. We don't release a partial list of results, we wait until all of the results are in and then make it public.

-"We are going to try and give the media one day notice about the announcement. I can't comment on if the brain of Michael Jackson has been returned to the family, nor any other elements of the investigation." If not Friday, Winter said an announcement will most likely be made early next week.

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HAVE KATHERINE JACKSON AND DEBBIE ROWE AGREED TO EXCLUDE JOE JACKSON FROM THE CUSTODY OF MICHAEL'S KIDS???

We heard the rumor that DEBBIE ROWE'S main concern as far as the welfare of "her" kids was that MICHAEL JACKSON'S father, JOE JACKSON, be EXCLUDED from custody. And supposedly, yesterday's custody hearing was postponed until next Monday because Debbie and Michael's mother, KATHERINE JACKSON, were working on a deal that would do just that.

Well, the "New York Post" claims that Debbie and Katherine have come to an agreement. --It stipulates that Debbie will NOT seek custody of Michael's two eldest children . . . the ones that once resided in her womb . . . and in exchange, Joe . . . who allegedly abused Michael mentally and physically as a child . . . will have no hand in raising them.

A so-called "source" says, quote, "The last thing she wanted was for those kids to be looked after by Joe and go through what Michael went through. --"When [Rowe and Jackson] were [married], Michael poured out his heart about how much he loathed Joe for what he had done." (--Katherine and Joe are still married, but not happily. In fact, they haven't lived together for several years.)

The agreement also . . . (--again, SUPPOSEDLY) . . . continues a bizarre little tradition that goes back to when the kids were first born. --Namely, that Debbie is never to be identified to the kids as their mother. As far as the kids have always been concerned, Debbie is a FAMILY FRIEND, and is referred to in their presence as "Miss Debbie".

But Debbie DOES get monthly, SUPERVISED visits with the two kids that are hers: 12-year-old Prince Michael and 11-year-old Paris.

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THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES THINKS THE CITY *SHOULD* PAY FOR MICHAEL JACKSON'S MEMORIAL:

Something tells me this is NOT going to be a popular position: Los Angeles Mayor ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA is UPSET that his staff set up a website seeking donations for MICHAEL JACKSON'S memorial service. -In fact, he believes that the city SHOULD foot the entire bill . . . which comes to about $1.4 million.

He said, quote, "This is a world-class city, and we provide fire and police protection, period. The idea that we would charge the family for a funeral is nonsensical." --Villaraigosa . . . who was on vacation in South Africa during the memorial . . . says he will NOT ask the public, or AEG Live, to pay ANYTHING.

Villaraigosa made the city stop accepting donations on Friday afternoon. Up to that point, they had already received about $35,000. There's no word if or how those people will get their money back. AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center, picked up the tab for everything that went on INSIDE the arena. The Jackson Family also contributed.

Speaking of AEG, they're going ahead with their idea for some kind of memorial concert . . . but they still aren't sharing any details. --All we know at this point is that they want to recreate Michael's final stage show, "This Is It!", as faithfully as they can . . . without him, obviously. --They're hoping to do it at the O2 arena in London . . . where the show was supposed to begin a 50-date run YESTERDAY. --About 600 Michael fans actually showed up at the O2 last night for a mini-tribute. Fans brought candles and flowers, and some danced as images of Michael were shown on a big screen.

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A MAN IS SUING ABC, BECAUSE HE SAYS *HE* CREATED "LOST" . . . OVER 30 YEARS AGO:

A 79-year-old man named ANTHONY SPINNER . . . (--a retired, smalltime writer and TV producer) . . . claims HE created "Lost" . . . over 30 YEARS AGO. Spinner says he came up with the idea back in 1977 . . . when he was hired to write a TV pilot. He says he produced a 121-page script, called "Lost", for ABC. However, ABC decided to pass on the show. (--In fact, he says they rejected it THREE times . . . in 1977, 1991 and 1994.)

Anyway, he claims the current series, "Lost", is a total rip-off of his idea . . . so last week, he filed a lawsuit against ABC and Touchstone Television. There's no word how much he's suing for . . . but he wants a cut of the show's profits and royalties.

(--If you're curious, you can find a complete list of all the alleged similarities between Spinner's old "Lost" script and the current show, in this PDF file . . .) http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0713_lost.pdf

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STEVEN TYLER *DID* HURT HIS LEG:

The mysterious "artist injury" in AEROSMITH has finally been explained . . . and the rumors were true: STEVEN TYLER hurt a muscle in his leg. Guitarist JOE PERRY confirmed this . . . and apologized for their tour cancellations . . . on his Twitter page, saying, "Sorry for the let down. Better Steven recovers fully than halfway [and] strains his leg again."

And in a radio interview yesterday drummer JOEY KRAMER added, "[He] ripped [his quadricep] jumping around on the stage. And it's painful. [At first], he couldn't even stand up or walk or anything."